There’s a certain magic in the air in Malibu. I feel it every time I am there.

The highlights on this most recent trip included the simply amazing Open House I went to on Malibu Road. The view from the deck off the Master Bedroom is shown in the above photo. The minute you walk into the house you are mesmerized by the views of the ocean and the sea breeze caressing your face. This house is available for sale at $14, 950,000, which I am sure is negotiable. If you or anyone you know is interested in buying it, please contact me! I can represent your best interests and ONLY your interests. Besides the stunning views, features in this 4 bedroom, 4.5 bathroom 4110 square foot home include a Lutron Control home automation system, beautiful stone floors and simple spare lines throughout. The neighboring homes are spectacular as well, so you will be in excellent company.

If that wasn’t amazing enough, the $300,000,000 mega-yacht named simply “A” was anchored just off-shore, within view from all the Malibu beaches. The best view was from the prestigious Carbon Beach, where many homes of celebrities line the shoreline. Carbon Beach is also a wonderfully wide stretch of sandy shore.

"A" for Andrey?

This unique mega-yacht is owned by 38-year old Russian oligarch Andrey (also spelled Andrei) Melnichenko who is married to a Serbian former model. They married a couple years ago on the French Riviera, and he flew in Christina Aguillera to perform for their guests.

Rumor has it that the gazillionaire is planning to purchase up an entire block of homes in the Venice Canals in the beachside town of Venice, just down the coast from Malibu. A source posted on the internet that his title company confirmed that title requests were submitted on such a block there.

One of several cylinders full of fascinating fish

Nearby the Malibu Road manse is the Lumber Yard, a fabulous space, only about two years old in the Crossroads shopping area, just off PCH or Pacific Coast Highway. This sleek but laid-back spot offers chic boutiques, restaurants and specialty fooderies, hair stylists and home decor. If you’re hungry, you will enjoy Cuban/Mexican fare at Cafe Habana, owned by super model Cindy Crawford’s husband Rande Gerber, who owns many restaurants, bars and lounges around the world. Or you just might want to satisfy your sweet-tooth at Crumbs Cupcakes or the geletaria, which offers Italian style gelato and frozen yogurt. Yum!

It’s great for people-watching, too, not to mention dog-watching. They love their dogs in Malibu! James Perse offers delicious complimentary drinks, the Arnold Palmer, which is an iced tea-lemonade mix, as well as nice lounges outside to relax on, if you are in the mood. Often, there is a mellow musician playing, adding a low-key soundtrack to your day. There are a couple cylinders with various fish, coral and sea plants in them. One is tropical and another is the California sea coast marinelife.

The vast majority of people in Malibu seem to be incredibly mellow, friendly and helpful, adding to the magical quality of time spent there. It’s a great place to go to in order to escape the desert heat in the summer!

Another place I love to start my day of exploring Malibu Beaches, boutiques and real estate, is at Moonshadows, located right on Pacific Coast Highway. It’s especially fabulous for lunch or brunch so you can take full advantage of the incredible ocean views. You are literally sitting over the ocean! You can’t get much closer than that to the ocean without getting wet! Great food, reasonable prices and a friendly staff is why I continue to return there and highly recommend it.

surrounded by the majestic Coral Mountains, groves of date palm trees and a sprawling green golf course highlighted with a sparkling lake. It offers an active lifestyle to those who are 55+ in a beautiful oasis in the desert. The 21,000 square foot Santa Rosa Club is expansive and hosts all kinds of events to keep the residents of Trilogy entertained and amenities to help keep them healthy, such huge indoor and outdoor pools and spas as well as a state-of-the-art exercise facility. There’s also an impressive PGA Tour-quality championship golf course, that was home to the Skins Games for years.

The Coral Spa & Athletic Club is a full-service spa offering manicures, massage, treatments, and more in addition to its fully outfitted fitness center. There are also restaurants to enjoy and so much more. While there are still some new homes being built, they are almost sold out.

Whether you are looking for a brand new, never-lived-in home or a resale that has already been upgraded, I can help you find your perfect home here, if you decide Trilogy La Quinta, built by the well-known builder Shea Homes, is what you are looking for.

There are approximately 1500 residents living in more than 900 homes currently in Trilogy, and it is expected that there will be more than 1800 people in more than 1100 homes once the community is complete.

81833 Sun Cactus Lane

I can help you with your search for the perfect home in Trilogy whether on the golf course, or with a private pool, or whatever is on your wish list.

Currently, I have a listing for a beautiful 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom, PLUS den/media room, on 81833 Sun Cactus Lane, that has been highly upgraded with designer lighting, fixtures and appliances. It’s on a quiet street that backs up to a grove of date palm trees framed by the Coral Mountains. Enjoy a glass of wine or a margarita in the above-ground spa during our balmy winters and admire the stars.

Imagine enjoying the stars while soaking in the spa!

On the rare occasion that the winter nights get a little chilly, there is a fireplace to warm up by. The master bedroom has upgraded carpet and a huge bathroom with a walk-in closet adjoining it. Throughout the common areas there are French-limestone colored ceramic tile set on the diagonal.

This open-space floorplan is coined as the Monterey floorplan. You can enjoy cooking up a gourmet meal using the upgraded GE Cafe’ stainless steel appliances and have plenty of space between the counters and the island to work, yet not miss any of the fun while your guests lounge in the living room area. Built-in speakers in the ceilings of the living room area and the separate den/media room enhance your acoustic experience whether listing to music or taking in a movie.

A kitchen fit for the gourmet/entertainer!

Life is good down here in the desert, even if you live here year-round, because thank goodness for AC!

We have alot of movie theatres, restaurants and stores, although some close during the summer months, and you can always take day trips or longer to the beach cities or to the mountain areas, all about 1.5 to 2 hours away.

You will find that home values are fantastic here compared to coastal Californian cities! This listing of mine that I am showcasing here is listed for $365,000. There’s not too many resort areas where you can buy a 1693 square foot house that was built in 2004 and upgraded even more since then, for this price range.

Trilogy is gated, with a guard 24/7 and patrol cars, and so it’s very secure as well.

So come on down to the Coachella Valley and if you are seriously thinking about buying property down here, I can seriously help you find just what you are looking for! I can be best reached on my cell: 760-587-6009 or via e-mail: wcampbell@wendysdesertrealestate.com.

It’s only about 45 minutes away from the Coachella Valley, but once there in Idyllwild, you feel as if you are in another state, like Colorado, or even another country, like Austria, perhaps.

That’s because it’s about a mile up above from the desert floor, and in an entirely different climate zone. The temperature there is always lower than in the desert, so it’s a great getaway in the summer to escape the desert heat. Bring a sweater just in case!

Having a great jazz festival to attend is a great added benefit of visiting Idyllwild. Every year, you can count on Jazz in the Pines to deliver some smoking jazz from dozens of great musicians.

The main stage where the headliners play

This year the main draw was David Benoit, the famed smooth jazz pianist, accompanied by Eric Marienthal on sax, David Huges on electric bass, and Jeff Olson on drums. Mellow, whimsical, hot and sweet, a real show of talent.

Last year, Pete Escovedo and his daughter Sheila E and the rest of the immensely talented Escovedo Family wowed the audience. I am a huge fan of their music and have one of their CDs. They put so much intense, fun and hot energy into their playing and performance, with the Latin and jazz rhythms, with an emphasis on drums, that just about everyone was on their feet dancing including yours truly. I got so carried away I even stomped on my new sun glasses, which couldn’t be fixed, alas, but it was such a great time. Thank goodness I never spend too much on sunglasses anyway!

After the concert, it’s fun to check out some of the cute stores in downtown Idyllwild, over which looms Tahquitz peak also known as Lily Rock. On another day, plan to go hiking up there! It’s a great way to spend the day.

Tahquitz Rock aka Lily Rock looms over Idyllwild

You might have worked up an appetite after all that dancing or hiking, and my favorite place to go apres concert in particular is Aroma Cafe, a sophisticated but rustic and romantic restaurant with great food and atmosphere. If you want something a little more casual, try The Greek Place, right downtown next to The Red Kettle, which is a great place for breakfast, in particular. This time a cute gray squirrel was dining on a pinecone over head, and was tossing some of his kernals down on me. At the end, he tossed down the entire core of the pine-cone! I thought that was pretty amusing, since we don’t have squirrels down in the desert.

The ride back down to the desert is a little hairy for some, with the hairpin curves and breathtaking views, but if you cruise at a reasonable pace, then it’s really not that scary.

The view going down into the desert from Highway 74

There are events that happen throughout the year in Idyllwild so keep an eye out for what’s happening. Another great event there is the annual Art and Wine Festival, which is really a fun feast for the senses. You might want to stay overnight at one of the many inns there if you decide to indulge in a variety of fine wines.